Apparatus for constructing monolithic canalized structures



Dec. 21, 1937. J. P. MOURRAILLE 2,102.639

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING MONOLITHIC CANALIZED STRU CTURES I Original Filed July 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVgNTOR Jean PIrreZouISMourraiZIe l BY ATTOR EY ,1937. J. P. L. MOURRAILLE 2,102,639

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING MONOLITHIC CANALIZED STRUCTURES Original Filed July 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR J'ean PierreLauzsMourrazlle ATTORNEW' BY A W x44 F s b e s cu dt it nrie e i th stcase,

. M the character specified, novel and :improved ar- Patentecl Dec. 21, 1937 A AR TUS FOR CONSTRUCTING MONO- LITHIC GANALIZED- STRUCTURES Jean Pierre Louis Mourraille, Paris, France, as- 'signor to St dite Satujo St An de Construction dc Tuyaux sans Joints Systeme 'Cravetto Brevct S. G. D. G., Paris, France original application July 1, 1933, Serial No. 678,711. Divided and this application April '17, $3343) Serial ,No. 720,986. In France October 1 2 3 Claims.

UNITED STATE ihg pumps or other machines, and-whereby the water employed for-maintaining the core in an inflated condition, can be used over and over again, if desired.

,Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appearas the description proceeds and will e set forth and claimed in the appended claims. V

My inventionis illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a form of device, embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view, in an enlarged scale, of the distributing tray; 1

Fi 3 isa sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2;

,7 This invention relates to monolithic canalized structures, such as cement or concrete sewer pipes, conduits, and the like, and more particularly refers to improvements in apparatus for producing such structures. w

.A meth d of cons r ct n vcanalized st ct s, without joints, made of self-setting plastic materi l whe eb th ma a s ed a u a core consisting of an inflated flexible-tubular member and whereby said core is withdrawnafter ,thematerial has set, in order to be advanced to the next position for pouring, has been suggested ,bei rfiiHq e t met d her o e now entail the necessity of either shifting the core b dily forward while in its inflatedposition, as .1, 9W. 1 in tance in he. aten r Boyle, .No. 857,587, or else they'require that the core bedeflated previous to its removal and be rem ved v ins t ed ins ut b ns of a device, embodying my invention, in a preferred form; and

a Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

From the premises it will be seen that my invention broadly resides in apparatus comprising a hollow, flexible, reversible core, means for reversing said core and means for applying fluid th s iftinso c rei a p act c m s b l ty, be use t e c o dheren e, of t o ezsu fa to the surface of the conduit creates such afric- Stionalresistance upon the core (which is gen- .erally made of canvas or rubberized fabric) that ,either thesurface of the conduit or the core, or .both, .will be damaged during the operation. The .other method whereby itis suggested that the core be deflated previous to its removal and then #30 turned inside outhas also been foundunusable in practice, because. itis', impossible to remove the core in' such a way as to leaveundamaged-the internal surface of the conduit and the core itself; The difficulties entailed by the latter method .haye alreadybeen dealt with in my v copending application, Serial No. 678,711, filed July 1, 1933, of which this is a division.

- The present invention has for its primary object to provide a novel and improved apparatus, whereby the removal of a flexiblecore from a pcanalized structure of the character specified, can be effected without difiiculty and without damage to either theistructure orthe core itself.

Another object is to provide in apparatus of is withdrawn after the material has set.

The apparatus shown in Figs 1,2, 3, cornprises a hollow, collapsible, core I, consisting of a tube as, for instance, canvas or rubberized fabric, of a length and diameter corresponding to the dimensions of the canalized structure 2 to be pro 'duced.

tening means .3, a cable 4 runningthrough said closed end.. v V

The fastening 3-must be such as to render the tube perfectly water tight, and cable must be fixed in such a manner that it will not slip. Cable 4' should be preferably twice aslong as tube I, the portions of said cable '4 remaining inside and outside tube l, respectively, being approximately of the same length.

troldevice, shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. This device comprises two flanged bushings 5 and 6, which are to be fixed respectively to the core I and tea supply conduit containing afluid under rangements whereby a flexible core can be removed'fro-m a conduit after setting, by graduallydrawing it inside out, while maintaining F -wlthinsaid core a pressure sufficient to maintain it s unturned portionin an inflated condition whilethe remoyal of the core takes place.

further object is to provide an exceedingly simple and reliable arrangement, whereby a uniform pressure can be maintainedwithin the core (dialin i s empval w thout t ev ne s t f or any other suitable source. I The two bushings 5 and 6 are coupled to each other by means of bolts or any other suitable Fig. 4, is avertical section showing another,

pressure within said core, both while the plasticmaterialis poured around it and when said core made from a flexible substance or material, such; 1

The tube l isclosed at one end by suitable he v The open .end of tube 1 is fastened to a con-1 pressure, issuing either from a tank or a pump, H

means l, 'a distributing tray 8 being interposed therebetween. Said tray is provided with two:;

- of the core.

series of valves 9 and I0, opening in opposite directions (see Figs. 3) and consequently referred to as inlet valves and exhaust valves.

The valves 9 and III are equal in number (four in example shown) and are evenly distributed on the tray. The springs I I of the exhaust valves I!) are so arranged that they can only open when the pressure in the flexible tube I is above a predetermined maximum, controlled by a pressure gauge I2, fitted on bushing 5.

Cable 4 extends through the center of the distributing tray 8, which is provided with a suitable, absolutely water tight device I3, embracing said cable.

When a canalized structure Without joints is to be constructed, a flexible tube I, of a suitable length, is placed upon a bed of cement and bushing 6 is joined to the pipe supplying the fluid under pressure. Under the action of said fluid inlet valves 9 open and the fluid penetrates within the flexible tube I. When the pressure in said flexible tube has reached the predetermined value indicated by the pressure gauge I2, the supply of fluid is turned off, or else bushing 6 is detached from the supply pipe. Inlet valves 9 are then maintained on their respective seats, on one side by their spring I4 and on the other side by the fluid contained in the flexible core I. Said flexible core being made of water-tight material, the pressure within the same will remain constant. Cement or concrete is then poured in the usual manner around the flexible core I.

Unless it has already been done, bushing 6 is then disconnected from the supply pipe of the fluid under pressure, preparatory to the, removal Cable 4 is then pulled outwardly through tray 8 by means of a handle I5. When this is done the increased pressure within the flexible core I will cause. exhaust valves ID to open, the fluid under pressure contained within the core being forced out therefrom, while at the same time the flexible core is turned inside out, as shown in Fig. 1. The pull on cable 4 is maintained until the end of the fastening of the tube I reaches the device I3. At this stage, bushing 5 is disconnected and the fluid retaining apparatus is replaced by a suitable coupling, permitting the fluid contained within the core to be slowly ejected as the operation of turning said core inside out is completed.

A preferred and simpler form of apparatus, also embodying my invention, is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This apparatus comprises a tank I6, resting upon the ground by means of supports I'!, the height of these being such that the pressure within core I, which extends from the bottom of said tank, will be sufllcient to maintain said core fully expanded when the cement or other plastic material is poured. The tank I6, which can be of any suitable form, is provided with inclined tubes I8, extending through its bottom and supported by means of packing I9. The upper ends of tubes I8 are cut at a slant and are placed horizontally in a common plane. The tank has, besides, an overflow outlet 20 at the same level as the horizontal plane delimiting the upper ends of tubes I8. The'overflow 2B is equipped with a drain 2|. The device is completed by a shaft 22 carried by the tank I6 and provided with a loose roller 23.

The method of manipulating this device is as follows: The trench 24 in which the canalized structure is to be located having been prepared, a lining 25 is poured at the base of this trench and upon said lining are placed the tubes I, which are to be used as cores for the construction of the canalized structure.

As shown, the closed end of each pipe I is inserted within the front end of the stump of canalized structure previously constructed, the free end of the said pipe being inserted over the corresponding tube I8 with the assistance of suitable means. The various tubes I, after having been connected to the corresponding tubes I8, are filled with a. liquid, for instance, water, and tank I6 is also filled with the same liquid, the liquid level within said tank remaining even with the upper ends of tubes I8.

By virtue of this arrangement an even pressure obtains and is maintained within the various tubes I.

The cement or concrete for the construction of the canalized structure is then poured in place, as-previously explained. For the withdrawal of the cores, it is only necessary to pull on cables 4, which cause the cores to be turned inside out. As each core is thus turned inside out, the water it contains is discharged into tank I6 and thence immediately through outlet 20.

Irrespective of what the status of each core I may be, the level of the water in tank I6 remains the same, and it follows, therefore, that the pressure within cores I remains uniform throughout.

The roller 23 is placed so as to maintain cables 4 in their proper alignment, so as to facilitate their operation when the pull is applied thereto.

It is, of course, possible to use a second tank (not shown) associated with tank I6, adapted to collect the water discharged from the latter, as each core I is turned inside out. In this manner, the water used for putting the cores under pressure can be saved, this being particularly advantageous when working in localities where water is scarce. Furthermore, by it the cost of constructing the canalized structure may be somewhat reduced.

By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to effect a quick withdrawal of the flexible core I without the canalized structure being damaged internally in any manner. It is, therefore, possible to produce tubular conduits of an even section.

The feature of withdrawing the flexible core I whilst still under pressure prevents the said core from sagging and forming within the conduit an obstruction preventing it from yielding in the inside out turning thereof.

The invention can be applied not only in connection with single conduit structures but also in connection with canalized structures provided with a plurality of conduits. In the latter case, the required number of flexible cores are placed in proximity of one another and'maintai'ned in their relatively spaced positions by suitable means, such as sluices or other means.

For the construction of a canalized structure of reinforced cement the procedure is as explained above, the conduit to be covered with cement being made of a metallic trellis placed around the mould pipe. 7

It is obvious that the invention is in nowise limited to the embodiments which have been more especially described by Way of example, but that it extends to all possible modifications coming, fairly, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the construction of a canalized structure out of a self-setting plastic material,

comprising an inflatable, collapsible, flexible core consisting of a hollow body closed at one end and having a; pull cord attached thereto, means for admitting a fluid under pressure within said core so as to inflate the same, and means for maintaining pressure within said core, when a pull is exerted upon said cord so as to turn said core inside out, and to gradually detach it from the surface of the surrounding conduit, said cord extending through and beyond said pressure maintaining means.

2. Apparatus for the construction of a canalized structure out of a self-setting plastic material, comprising an inflatable, collapsible, flexible core consisting of a hollow body closed at one end, a cord attached to said end for turning said core inside out, a plurality of automatically operable pressure responsive valves associated with the other end of said core, some of said valves serving to admit liquid under pressure into said core so as to inflate the same and serving to maintain said pressure therein, and other of said valves serving to allow the liquid to escape when the core is being turned inside out and to maintain under pressure that portion of the fluid at any time remaining within the core. 7

3. Apparatus for the construction of a canalized structure out of a self-setting plastic material, comprising an inflatable, collapsible, flexible core consisting of a hollow body closed at one end, a tank, a sloping tube projecting within, and depending from said tank, connected to the open end of said core; an overflow outlet in said tank at the level of the top of said tube and causing the liquid within said tank to remain at a constant level, so as to exert a substantially uniform pressure within said core both when fully inflated and when gradually withdrawn, and a pull cord attached to the closed end of the core and passing through the core and tube.

JEAN PIERRE LOUIS MOURRAILLE. 

